In addition to teaching the essential elements of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Julie was in the first group of instructors ever trained in teaching Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), which impacted her greatly and has become an integral part of her work.

“Mindfulness is the foundation of Mindful Self-Compassion,” she says. “We need to know we are suffering in order to respond to our discomfort with kindness. Having compassion for yourself means that you honor and accept your humanness. Things will not always go the way you want them to. You will encounter frustrations; losses will occur; you will make mistakes, bump up against your limitations, fall short of your ideals. This is the human condition, a reality shared by all of us. The more you open your heart to this reality instead of constantly fighting against it, the more you will be able to feel compassion for yourself and all your fellow humans in the experience of life.”

In “Life Falls Apart, but You Don’t Have To,” Julie offers readers concrete tips that draw upon the mindfulness tools she has honed over more than a decade. She addresses issues such as:

– Finding happiness apart from your children’s lives.
– Practicing important self-care rituals.
– Rewiring your brain for more happiness and resilience.
– Feeling safe and comforted in the midst of the chaos.
– Listening to your inner critic without letting it tear you down.

“Mindfulness is the first step in emotional healing,” says Julie. “It’s being able to turn toward and acknowledge our difficult thoughts and feelings — such as inadequacy, sadness, anger, or confusion — with a spirit of openness and curiosity. Self-compassion involves responding to these difficult thoughts and feelings with kindness, sympathy, and understanding so that we soothe and comfort ourselves when we’re hurting. Research has shown that self-compassion greatly enhances emotional well-being. It boosts happiness, reduces anxiety and depression, and can even help maintain healthy lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise. Being both mindful and compassionate leads to greater ease and well-being in our daily lives.”

About: Author and mindfulness expert Julie Potiker is an attorney who began her serious study and investigation of mindfulness after graduating from the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program at the University of California, San Diego. She went on to study with Brene Brown (the Living Brave Semester) and become a graduate of Rick Hanson’s Positive Neuroplasticity Training (Professional Course) as well as the Mindful Self-Compassion program created by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer. Now, she shares these and other mindfulness techniques with the world through her Mindful Methods for Life trainings and her new book: “Life Falls Apart, but You Don’t Have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm In the Midst of Chaos.” She holds a B.G.S. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from George Washington University.